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1.6 GL 5dr

My car

This car gets one star!! In the real world with the average driver it should get three or four.On cost alone we have recently purchased a 2007 1.6 gls ex-mobility car for £2995,less if you take into account the £800 trade in for a 13 year old hyundai coupe that really wasnt worth a penny,so for £2200 we got a 4 year old car with 20k,fully maintained with lots of kit and not a mark on the bodywork.The car drives very well,returns 42 mpg and looks very smart it has less rattles than our brand new mini cooper convertible and cost £15k less.If your on a budget and want a reliable low cost newish car you wont do better,not cheap new but depreciation means they are a bargain second hand.Ignore the so called expert reviews and save yourself a packet or buy a common run of the mill high mileage more prestige badge and lose a fortune the choice is yours!!!

1.6 GSX SE 5dr

Emil Radev
,
.
Date:
08/03/2011

Overall verdict

5
out of 5 stars

What's it like to drive

5
out of 5 stars

Running costs

4
out of 5 stars

Quality, practicality and equipment

4
out of 5 stars

Average MPG

39.2

My car

I did own a Proton Compact as my first car, drove it 2 years all day, long distances, and never had any problems with it. Then as I got 21 I bought BMW 3 series, obviously loved it as well but kept breaking down all the time and the maintenance cost was just too much, then decided to get a brand new car, so I got back to PROTON and got the Gen 2 SE the facelift model. I love it, been driving it for 1 year and a half now, no problems except the power steering liquid was leaking so they had to change a part, up to now I have done 28,000 miles in pleasure, the car is very conferrable even in long distances, went back to BULGARIA in it, so drove 2000 miles going there and 2000 coming back, also went to Paris and Edinburgh, I love driving long distances in this car.
Yes the dashboard is plasticy and is quite noisy on the motorway but otherwise everything else is just perfect, the handing is superb, well is Lotus handling what do we expect anyway, and the engine is quite good for 1.6, 110bhp.
For 12,000 you get leather seats, reverse parking etc. I am just amazed how much car I got for 12k.
People should stop believing in the stupid reviews and go to try it for themselves.

The only problem I have is that is quite expensive to maintain for cheap car as it is, the 9000 miles service was 128 pounds, and then the 18,000 service was 192 pounds ! which I find expensive, also road tax is 185 for a year on 1.6 engine !

1.6 GL 5dr

Jackie Johnson
,
West Midlands
.
Date:
04/03/2011

Overall verdict

4
out of 5 stars

What's it like to drive

5
out of 5 stars

Running costs

3
out of 5 stars

Quality, practicality and equipment

4
out of 5 stars

Average MPG

35

My car

I have been driving a variety of cars, ranging from sports cars to full-sized passenger coaches, for 40 years. I have owned Toyota Celicas and Mazda MX-5s. Unfortunately neck and back problems forced me to buy a car which was easier to get into and lighter to drive. All my dealer had appropriate at the time was a 2005 Proton Gen-2 1.6 GL. I knew nothing about Protons and read the reviews, which scared me. I dithered for quite a while and then went for it. I have been extremely pleasantly surprised, and find many internet reviews most unfair. OK, it's not the first off at the lights if you want to be a boy racer, but it's surprisingly powerful and outpaces many similar cars. It handles superbly and the cornering is great. As a woman I do not find the driving position uncomfortable at all, in fact it's the most comfortable car I've ever driven, and I LIKE the pale brown interior instead of the black holes that most cars have these days. Some of the plastics are a bit flimsy, and I've been having a problem with the door locking mechanism, but apart from that I'm very pleased with the car, which I've now had for 2.5 years, and am in no hurry to change it.

1.6 GSX 5dr

jon higgins
,
united kingdon
.
Date:
20/05/2008

Overall verdict

5
out of 5 stars

What's it like to drive

4
out of 5 stars

Running costs

4
out of 5 stars

Quality, practicality and equipment

3
out of 5 stars

My car

Why is this car getting just a one star rating in magazines?

I bought this car initially on price - it was cracking value. The bagful of warranties was also reasurring.

It is quite excellent to drive. I had a Peugeot 306 before and is every bit as good as that landmark car to drive. It is also stacked with equipment, such as leather seats, climate control, and a top stereo.

OK, so the interior plastics ain't great, but mine has the the grey and black dash with black seats and it looks far classier than the earlier models.

I am almost losing count of the number of friends who rubbish this car initially, and then when they have been out in it, have to change their opinion.

In summary, then, it's good looking, sharp-driving, comfortable, inexpensive and different - I love it.

Lastly, I am 5ft 11in tall, and of slim build, and I have no probs with the driving position - do yourself a favour today - go and try one!